Rep. Ro Khanna takes on the “Epstein class” | Today, Explained

TL;DR

Khanna defines the "Epstein class" as wealthy elites who use power to stay above the law and demands full document release and prosecutions.

Key Points

• 1.Khanna coined "Epstein class" to mean rich, connected individuals — not all billionaires — who use wealth and power to evade legal accountability, citing figures like Bill Gates and Bill Clinton as deserving investigation.
• 2.At least 50% of Epstein files remain hidden; key unreleased documents include the 302 victim interview statements and the 2007 prosecutor memo explaining Epstein's sweetheart deal.
• 3.Khanna and Thomas Massie forced accountability by reading six redacted names on the House floor, which led to the resignation of Dubai CEO Sultan and public acknowledgment of Les Wexner as a co-conspirator.
• 4.Khanna acknowledges Democrats were slow on Epstein because many donors appeared in the files, saying the political class "wasn't rushing to expose all of this."
• 5.On AI, Khanna positions himself as an "AI democratist" — neither accelerationist nor doomer — calling for a Singapore/Finland model requiring data centers to use renewable energy and protect jobs.
• 6.Khanna backed California's one-time 5% billionaire wealth tax to prevent 2 million people from losing healthcare, which cost him relationships with some Silicon Valley supporters.
• 7.Khanna is considering a presidential run post-midterms, framing his cross-country travel on economic inequality, AI, and Epstein accountability as building a national platform rather than a formal campaign.